Help! Landing Interviews, But Not Jobs

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, everyone! I need help. I have recently graduated RN school and I have been interviewed three times and been denied because they have decided to go with someone with more experience. How can I convince them that I am the right candidate? I truly love nursing and every time I get denied, it breaks my heart, because I can't be doing what I love.

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Hello, everyone! I need help. I have recently graduated RN school and I have been interviewed three times and been denied because they have decided to go with someone with more experience. How can I convince them that I am the right candidate? I truly love nursing and every time I get denied, it breaks my heart, because I can't be doing what I love.

Well, I wouldn't throw out anything like that. It makes me feel like I'm watching a lifetime movie (which I would never do, but I've seen some of their commercials). Anyway ...focus on what you can do for them. Sell yourself based on your unique attributes. They don't care about your heart breaking or what you love.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Based on that organization's values, how can you add value to their team?

Consider your responses to the questions in advance of the interview. Visit the nursing career section here on AN for tips or use Google. Interview questions in nursing are fairly standard.

As the previous poster said, do not tell them you're kind or compassionate. That should be a given. Employers want concrete examples of why you are the ideal candidate.

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The above advice is excellent. I'll add in this - patience. New graduate nursing jobs are extremely competitive. It might take a half dozen interviews before you land a job. It took me a few interviews to both nail down how best to project who I was and to find a department/hospital/management team that I meshed with.

Good luck.

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Hi,

What type(s) of nursing units are you applying to? Always stress your organizational skills, time management, and importance of providing excellent, safe nursing care. You may want to google nursing interview questions, especially if the interview format is behavioral based. I hope this helps. Good luck.

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It took me 11 applications, 4 interviews, and 1 offer to get my current job as a new nurse. Have you been looking at graduate nurse positions? These openings don't expect you to have any nursing experience, but you have to be able to sell yourself, so to speak. Practice before your interviews, and research the hospital. If you can find anything about the specific unit you'll be working on, bonus points. Good luck!

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Is there any one at the nursing school you graduated from who chould help?

Prior to becoming a nurse I interviewed (unsuccessfully) for several jobs. A teacher at the community college I'd gone to was willing to help me. She called human resources at the last place I had interviewed and they gave her some feedback about how I was presenting myself. I got the next job I applied for.

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Hello, everyone! I need help. I have recently graduated RN school and I have been interviewed three times and been denied because they have decided to go with someone with more experience. How can I convince them that I am the right candidate? I truly love nursing and every time I get denied, it breaks my heart, because I can't be doing what I love.

Three interviews are not much.

Employers are looking for nurses with critical thinking skills who are assertive, collaborateive , self-directed, resilient, novelty seeking ....

So - you have to think about what you can offer to the organization that others can't or what would make you an interesting candidate. Quality of care and value-based care are hot topics as it tied to better outcomes and reimbursement. Show that you understand that link and that you are interested in continues improvement! Be curious and easy to talk to /likeable.

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Could you speak to your school about setting up some mock interviews, by the way? Mine offered that if asked. If you feel that you are not presenting yourself effectively it might be helpful to get that kind of feedback.

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Assuming you are applying for full-time positions, try applying for part-time and PRN positions as well. Some work is better than no work in case you don't get offered FT. Plus, once you are employed you will be able to apply for FT positions as an internal candidate and have an advantage over others at that point.

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